D.H. Lawrence "Piano"
The title of the selection is "Piano" and the author is D.H. Lawrence. First publication date was in 1919.
The poem is set in the dusk, and the place is cozy without external distractions, so that the main character can indulge in thinking about past. The singing of a woman takes him back to memory that is pleasant. The room where they are located is comfortable, so that he can relax enough to receive mental images.
The main character is a man who is grown-up but feels nostalgic about his past. He how safe and protected he felt as a child. "I weep like a child for the past" (Lawrence).
Another important character is his mother who made a great influence in his life. He cherishes the memory of the moments spent with her. He says that he sees "a mother who smiles as she sings" (Lawrence). He also mentions a cozy parlor as the interior where the piano is situated.
The third character is a woman who is singing in the present. She is inspiring and nice because she triggers all the warm memories to come to his mind.
The narrator in this poem feels nostalgic and melancholic. His childhood was idyllic. He misses the sense of carelessness. His mother was a caring parent who created a perfect home for her child. The woman who is singing in the present time is very feminine and reminds him of his mother.
The poem is about a man who is listening to a woman singing. It takes him back to his childhood. He remembers how he felt while his mother smiled and sang, and he sat under the piano. His heart wants to go back to the past. However, that is impossible, and he remains lamenting.
The high point of the story is in the second stanza when we see a "cozy parlor", "Sunday evening at home" and "winter outside". This is when we get the image of what the main character remembers.
There are three stanzas in this poem and the mood is created with words such as softly, dusk, singing, piano, mother, smile, heart, cozy, passionate, childhood and weep. All of these words suggest that the atmosphere in this poem is nostalgic. These words are all intimate as well as sad in the present circumstances.
I enjoyed the poem because it is emotional, and I can identify with the narrator. Every person can understand the feelings that only a mother can provoke at such a tender age which last a lifetime.
This poem is without a doubt "good literature" as it is written by a great writer, D.H. Lawrence, who creates the atmosphere very convincingly and makes us see mental images. The topic is universal, and the readers are bound to feel compassion for the main character.
I learned about poetry writing from this poem. It is very clear that a poem doesn't have to be long in order to leave a great impression. I also noticed how crucial words are organized strategically.
Works Cited
Lawrence, D.H., Piano, 1919. Print
